Tracking Downtown Toronto's Amazing Building Boom.

Exclusive images of (construction) life on MaRS!

November 30 2011: Overlooking the MaRS Centre Phase 2 construction site at the corner of University & College on a rainy Wednesday morning

November 30 2011: Workers walk on rebar two levels above University Avenue

November 30 2011: Workers assemble a form to prepare for a concrete pour

MaRS rising: People passing through the intersection of University Avenue and College Street have been able to get glimpses of life on MaRS, now that construction of the MaRS Centre Phase 2 building has risen above hoarding around the southeast corner site.

Since PCL resumed construction on the project in August after a nearly 3-year-long hiatus, workers have poured concrete for most of the second level, and have been making fast progress as they prepare to add the third floor of what will ultimately be a 20-storey tower.

Below are two building renderings by B + H Architects, followed by a photo comparing the mothballed construction site — as it appeared after a snowstorm in January — to the progress that had been reached as of this morning. Those pics are followed by a series of photos tracking construction progress since early September.

November 25 2011: Phase 2 construction viewed from the southwest, from the University Avenue median

November 25 2011: A view of two of the three cranes operating on the site

November 25 2011: The south side of the building, next to Toronto General Hospital. Construction in the southeast corner has reached the third floor.

November 25 2011: The second level and support columns for the third floor seen looking northeast from the University Avenue median

November 25 2011: The view through the construction entrance at the site’s southwest corner off University Avenue

November 25 2011: The second level takes shape above hoarding along the University Avenue sidewalk

November 25 2011: Another construction entrance off University Avenue

November 25 2011: Construction progress near the northwest corner of the site

November 25 2011: Looking southeast from the University Avenue median toward the Toronto General Hospital building next to Phase 2

November 25 2011: Progress at the northwest corner of the building

November 25 2011: Phase 2 construction progress viewed the University Avenue median on the north side of College Street

October 29 2011: Phase 2 construction is more visible to passersby as the building begins to rise above the hoarding

October 29 2011: Building activity above a University Avenue entrance

October 29 2011: The main floor takes shape near the southwest corner of the site, along University Avenue

October 29 2011: Phase 2 viewed from the University Avenue median, looking northeast. The Burano condo, under construction three blocks away on Bay Street, is visible behind the crane.

October 29 2011: Construction progress at the northeast corner, viewed from the north side of College Street

September 3 2011: Looking northeast from the intersection of Gerrard Street & University Avenue, soon after work resumed and cranes were re-installed

September 3 2011: Construction resumed in August, and is expected to finish sometime in 2013. The building will have direct links to the subway, Toronto General Hospital and the rest of the MaRS Centre